Ladder extension.



R. M. BRASINGTON. LADDER EXTENSION. APPLICATION, FILED JANA. 1910.

Patented Dec.27,19 10.

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LADDER EXTENSION.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 27, 1910.

Application filed January 4, 1910. Serial No. 536,328.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Ross MANDAVILLE BRASINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Marietta, in the county of Washington and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 111 Ladder Extensions, of which the followlng is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in ladders, the object being to provide means for extending either one side or the other to adapt it to surfaces which are not perfectly level.

Vith this object in view, my invention comprises an extension strip or strips detachably connected with the ladder, whereby it may be attached to either side thereof, and extended to cause the ladder to rest solidly upon the ground.

My invention further consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings :-Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improvement with the extension applied thereto, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view from one side of the ladder showing the locking plates thereon, Fig. 3 is a view from one side showing the extension applied, Fig. 4 is a section through the extension including the ratchet teeth, catch, and connected parts, and Figs. 5 and 6 are details showing the two metal slide bands in perspective.

A, represents a ladder of ordinary type on the opposite sides of which are the locking plates 1, 1, each of which is preferably provided with two inverted key-hole slots 2, 2, that is to say, with the smaller end uppermost.

The numerals 3 and 4: indicate the extension strips, which are slidably connected together, and each of which carries a slide band, the band 5 at the upper end of the outer extension strip forming a cap over the upper end of the strip slidably embracing the other extension strip and having the dog or catch 6 pivotally connected to ears 7 7 thereon; and this dog or catch is located in an inclining groove 8 in the upper end of the strip, where a spring 9 is located which presses outwardly on the lower end of the dog or catch, wherebyto swing the button end outward and the looking end inward. This locking end engages the teeth of a ratchet-toothed bar 10 which is set in a groove 11 in the inner extension strip 3. The teeth of this strip incline downwardly, and are so constructed that the dog bears inwardly between two teeth with sufiicient pressure to uphold and support the weight of the outer extension strip 1, while at the same time it will admit of the latter being easily pulled downwardly in position to support the side of the ladder to which it is applied.

The lower band is widened out at the inner side to give an extended bearing on the inner extension strip 3, to which it is secured, and is provided with two studs adapted to enter the key-hole slots of the lower locking plate on the ladder, whereas an integral plate 12 at the top embracing a portion of the inner face of the inner extension strip 3 and the upper end, (and through which screws are extended to hold it in place), is likewise provided with two studs 13, 13, adapted to enter the keyhole slots of the upper locking plate. An eyelet l i extending upwardly from this integral plate is adapted to receive the end of the hook 15, whereby to prevent the extension strips from dropping downwardly out of the key-hole slots of the locking plates, which otherwise they might do by their own weight, the hook possessing sufiicient strength to prevent this. Of course, it is understood that all pressure, when the ex tension is in use, is upward, and the keyhole slots are made with reference to this, with the larger ends downward and the smaller ends upward. In this way, I have provided a very simple attachment for the usual type of ladder, which may be used or not without materlally altering the lad der itself.

It is evident that by slight alterations, a single strip might be used instead of two;

for instance, by a sliding connection with this strip with the side of the ladder, and by placing the ratchet toothed plate in the ladder. More or less other slight changes might also be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction herein set forth, but

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a ladder having locking plates thereon, of an extension adapted to be detachably fitted to the lockto the locking plates, and the other against ing plates, and means for securing the eX- moving in one direction while permitting tension against displacement from the lockmovement in the other, and means for holding plates. ing the extension in locked position.

5 2. The combination with a ladder having In testimony whereof I aifix my signa- 15 locking plates thereon with key-hole slot-s ture, in the presence of two witnesses.

in the plates, the smaller ends of which are ROSS MANDAVILLE BRASINGTON. uppermost, of an extension comprising two Vitnesses: extension strips slidably connected together, SAML. J. THOMPSON,

10 one carrying means for locking said strip ROBERT D. \VARD. 

